Steel Products
Tentative Deal with US Steel—Or Not…
Written by Sandy Williams
August 26, 2013
USW Local 8782 and US Steel have concluded negotiations in Pittsburgh but rumors have been rampant about what kind of deal, if any, has been made to resolve the lockout that has been ongoing at Lake Erie Works since April 28.
At least two media sources have said that the executive committee is not recommending the proposed contract. Several commentators on Local 8782’s Facebook page have indicated they received text messages and saw a posting on the Union website saying the new proposal is not recommended by the committee. The alleged comment was then removed from the Union’s posting.
The Union has posted two messages in response to confusion on the social media site.
“No matter what the media says. Don’t believe everything you hear.”
“Patients everyone! please Members need to see Tentative agreement before it goes public.”
US Steel has posted on its website the following:
“August 23, 2013 – HAMILTON, ONTARIO – U. S. Steel Canada, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of United States Steel Corporation, and the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 8782 have signed a tentative agreement on a successor five-year collective bargaining agreement covering employees at the company’s Lake Erie Works operations. The agreement provides that the parties will promptly present the settlement for ratification.
Details about the tentative agreement will be made available after the ratification process.”
Lake Erie employees on the Union’s social media site have expressed frustration with the media, union executives and U.S. Steel and are unsure what to believe.
“Stop listening to the union. Stop listening to the company. And certainly stop listening to the media,” said one commentator. “Go and actually READ the new offer for yourselves. If you like what you read and it works for you, vote YES. If you decide it doesn’t work for you, vote NO.”
The only facts that appear to be undisputed are that there is a proposal, it will be discussed with the membership on Wednesday, and a vote will take place on Friday.
Sandy Williams
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